David Don

David Don (1799–1841) was a prominent Scottish botanist and plant collector whose career involved significant work in academia and systematic botany, rather than extensive global exploration like some of his contemporaries

Key Life Activities

• Early Life and Family Influence: Don was born in Forfar, Scotland, into a family of esteemed botanists and nurserymen. His father, George Don, was a nurseryman who later became the Superintendent of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh, fostering David's early interest in plants.

• Librarian at the Linnean Society: He moved to London as a young man and worked as a personal librarian for the wealthy botanist Aylmer Bourke Lambert. This led to his long-standing position as the Librarian for the Linnean Society of London, a prestigious scientific society, a role he held for nearly twenty years.

• Professor of Botany: At the age of 35, Don became the first Professor of Botany at King's College London in 1836, where he was much beloved by his pupils and known for liberally imparting his knowledge.

• Systematic Botany and Naming Species: While he did not undertake major plant-hunting expeditions himself, Don played a crucial role in formally describing and naming many plant species introduced by other collectors, notably David Douglas. His key contributions include:

  • Formally publishing descriptions of major conifers such as the Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), Grand Fir (Abies grandis), and Coulter Pine (Pinus coulteri).

  • Describing a newly introduced orchid genus from Nepal, Pleione.

• Author and Academic Work: His significant academic works include the Prodromus Florae Nepalensis (1825), the first comprehensive flora of Nepal. He meticulously documented plant specimens, paying careful attention to their habitats and characteristics. 

Don's career focused on the study, documentation, and classification of plants, solidifying the findings of global plant hunters and contributing significantly to the academic field of botany. 

David Don (1799–1841) was a prominent Scottish botanist and taxonomist who played a critical role in describing many newly discovered plant species in the 19th century

. Unlike some of his contemporaries who primarily spent time in the field, David Don’s major contributions were academic and organizational. 

Key Life Activities and Career

• Academic Leadership: At age 35, he was appointed the first Professor of Botany at King's College London, a position he held until his death.

• Linnean Society: He served as the Librarian and Secretary of the Linnean Society of London for nearly 20 years, managing one of the world's most significant botanical archives.

• Taxonomy and Publication: Don was the first to formally describe and name several iconic tree species, including the Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), Grand Fir, and Coulter Pine.

• Flora of Nepal: In 1825, he published Florae Napalensis, the first major account of the plants of Nepal, based on specimens collected by others like Francis Buchanan-Hamilton.

• Early Training: He began his career working in his father's nursery in Forfar and later worked as a librarian for the wealthy botanist Aylmer Bourke Lambert. 

Family Legacy

David Don belonged to a legendary family of "plant hunters" and botanists: 

• George Don Sr. (Father): A renowned nurseryman and Superintendent of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

• George Don Jr. (Brother): A prolific field collector who traveled extensively in Africa and the Americas for the Royal Horticultural Society. 

Don's life was cut short by a malignant tumor; he died in London in 1841 at the age of 41. Today, his legacy is commemorated with a plaque at 32 Soho Square in London.